WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Oblivious
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Weakest Knight Became a Swordmaster, But Only in Dungeons ◈
Chapter 61: Divine Revelation (3)
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Bang!
The pale-gold-haired man, Damian Dunbringer, slammed into the wall. Bracing himself against the ground, he let out a deep breath.
“Urgh...!”
Pain surged through his chest.
Then Damian’s eyes widened.
“Uh...?”
His body was outside the sparring arena.
With trembling eyes, Damian looked up at the arena.
A light-brown-haired man stood there, covered in scrapes and burns.
He watched Damian while catching his breath.
It was Ron Hazely.
‘Did he predict how I would come at him...?’
Only then did Damian realize that he had fallen into Ron’s strategy.
No words came out. His mind was filled with confusion.
Soon, Damian closed his eyes and composed himself.
There was nothing unfair about it. He had simply lost. Ron had taken a complete victory from him.
Damian fully accepted that fact.
“Damian Dunbringer, out of bounds! Ron Hazely wins!”
Instructor Logan soon announced the result of the spar.
Normally, spars were held in a fairly relaxed atmosphere. Cadets whispering among themselves was allowed.
But faced with a result they simply could not believe, the cadets could only stare at Ron in stunned silence.
‘Hazely... won?’
Even when she had helped Ron prepare for the spar, Lara Twisloff had been sure he would not win.
She had only hoped Ron would resist as much as he could.
Yet he had somehow won. Lara could not easily accept the sight before her.
“That crazy bastard...”
Henry Twislope muttered a quiet curse of admiration.
He had cheered for Ron, sure, but he had not meant for him to actually win...
‘What the hell is he?’
Theodore Garniel could not close his mouth.
Even Theodore, who excelled at reading his opponent and strategizing, had no confidence that he could win even a single match against Damian.
Yet Ron had won. Theodore felt as though common sense itself had been denied.
Meanwhile, in the sparring supervision room.
The instructors watched the spar through screens Rachel had conjured with magic.
They were just as surprised.
The instructors who had returned for the second semester were especially flustered.
“How...?”
“There should have been a clear gap in their levels. What in the world is that cadet...?”
They had been full of questions about why Mirva, the Wisdom Beast, had assigned Damian and Ron to the same sparring group.
Yet after seeing those questions answered so clearly, the instructors instead felt a strange disconnect.
“Wait, why aren’t you all surprised!?”
Instructor Hannah, a woman with short hair and bronze skin, asked the first-semester instructors with trembling eyes.
They looked far too calm.
“A mid-to-low-ranked cadet beat a top-ranked cadet, and that genius no less! There can’t be any precedent for something like this...!”
“I was surprised. I just accepted it quickly.”
“How can you accept that quickly...? That...?”
Hannah pointed at the screen with a trembling finger, openly displaying her disbelief.
Rachel, the red-haired instructor in a pointed hat, and William, the gray-haired instructor with a calm expression, answered as though it were obvious.
“Because it’s Hazely.”
“Because it’s Ron Hazely. I think it’s entirely possible.”
“?”
Ah. This was Ron Hazely...
Quite extraordinary, wasn’t he?
“......???”
Still, the second-semester instructors, including Hannah, could not easily understand what that answer meant.
And in the sparring arena.
“Phew...”
Ron, the light-brown-haired man, let out a long sigh of relief.
‘Damn, that hurt like hell... Did I push myself too hard just to take down a top-ranked cadet?’
Still.
Ding!
[You have achieved the achievement “Victor of the Second-Semester Spar”!]
[Requirement: Win the first Sparring Test of the second semester of Griffin Knight Academy’s first year.]
[Reward: You have gained mana experience points.]
[Your stats have increased.]
[Mana Grade: “C-” → “C”]
The corner of Ron’s mouth curled upward.
‘Well, I did it somehow, right?’
He had achieved it, one way or another.
“Both sides, to your positions!”
At Instructor Logan’s shout, Ron and Damian went to the center of the sparring arena and faced each other.
“Bow!”
“I have learned a great deal!”
Ron and Damian bowed to each other and spoke.
Unless one side had been rendered unable to fight, the rule was that a spar ended with a bow.
“You may leave now.”
“Yes!”
Ron and Damian stepped down from the arena together.
As they did, Damian looked at Ron and asked worriedly,
“Ron Hazely, are you okay? You look badly hurt.”
“I’m not okay. I seriously feel like I’m going to die... But what about you? You got stomped by me. That must’ve hurt your image a little, huh?”
Ron smirked, ready to teabag him.
He knew Damian had been itching to defeat him when they had shaken hands in front of the matchup chart, confident in his own victory.
But Damian responded with a kind smile.
“It’s okay. I think it was a worthwhile defeat. I think I understand why Mirva judged that you and I could face each other.”
“What...?”
“Well, it’s not as though you defeated Theodore for no reason in the first semester. I’ve fought you twice, and both times, you landed a devastating blow on me. You were truly impressive, Ron Hazely.”
“...”
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t frustrated, but I should take today as a lesson. Rather, I’m grateful. Thank you for teaching me something valuable. It was a wonderful match.”
A dazzling glow seemed to fill Ron’s vision around Damian’s handsome smile.
“Ahh...”
“Gasp.”
“He’s so handsome...”
“How magnanimous...”
The female cadets covered their mouths in admiration.
Had they not been in the sparring arena, they would have cheered loudly.
‘This guy...’
Ron shot Damian a disgusted glare.
As expected of a virtuous protagonist, Damian was so decent and diligent that it was almost unpleasant. He was even thorough in his self-reflection.
Come to think of it, Damian had only treated Ron with intense competitiveness.
Unlike Theodore, he had not treated Ron for personal reasons such as jealousy, and he kept public and private matters strictly separate.
“Uh, sure...”
In the end, Ron turned away from Damian with a sickened expression.
It felt as if he were some gloomy darkness standing before a brilliant light.
‘Ugh, this is making me uncomfortable...’
His stomach somehow felt unsettled. He and someone like Damian simply did not get along.
...Ron was annoyed that he no longer felt like teabagging him.
* * *
Damian and I received healing magic.
Perhaps because his body was so sturdy, Damian only received a moderate amount of healing magic from the healers on the spot.
I, on the other hand, was taken to the infirmary.
“That is all. You did well, Cadet Ron Hazely.”
“Thank you!”
“Then please get plenty of rest.”
“Yes!”
After diligently casting healing magic on me for a while, the healer went to tend to other cadets injured during the Sparring Test.
‘Now I can finally rest.’
I had achieved my achievement, so I flopped onto the bed with a feeling of accomplishment and looked up at the ceiling.
Then I sensed someone at the entrance.
When I turned my head, I saw a white woman with fox ears.
“Ah, Master...!”
It was my Master, Lucia Silverbane, commander of the White Wing Knight Order. Her eyes were closed, and she wore a gentle smile.
Lucia was accompanied by Karen, her short-haired secretary, and a male and female White Wing knight. The male knight was Simon, a navy-haired knight with a sly expression.
Simon grinned at me and quietly gave me a thumbs-up.
I was about to give him one back, but gave up because Lucia was there. I only returned his gesture with a smile.
The two White Wing knights stood guard outside the entrance. Only Lucia and Secretary Karen entered.
“My Squire, please remain lying down.”
“Ah, yes!”
I started to sit up, then quickly lay back down.
Instead, the other cadets resting in the infirmary abruptly sat upright and stared at Lucia in surprise.
It was only natural. They would rarely have a chance to see the commander of the White Wing Knight Order from this close.
After greeting the healer, Lucia gracefully sat in the chair beside my bed, while Secretary Karen stood beside her.
“You worked hard. It surely wasn’t an easy spar.”
“Thank you...! Ah.”
Lucia leaned toward me.
Then...
Swish, swish.
She began gently stroking my hair.
“Huh...?”
“Uh...?”
Was it because of the special treatment from the White Wing Knight Order’s commander? The surrounding cadets were shocked.
I was flustered as well. This was a little too motherly to be seen as an ordinary Master and Squire relationship.
“You did truly well. You exceeded my expectations.”
A pleasant fragrance wafted over me, and her caring smile caught my eye.
Memories of liking Lucia in my previous life suddenly came to mind, and I swallowed dryly.
‘Ah.’
Damn it. She must have noticed my feelings again.
Fortunately, Lucia did not say anything. She only smiled kindly and pretended not to know.
Of course. As I had thought before, how often must she have read similar feelings from various people?
She must have also dealt with the advances of countless people. She would probably understand generously.
“My Squire.”
Lucia continued stroking my hair as though I were a puppy and spoke in a voice like the quiet night air.
“You may relax when we are not in a public setting. You are my Squire now, after all.”
“I understand...”
“Hehe, good.”
Hmm...
‘This unexpectedly turned into healing time.’
Being praised in such a caring voice and petted like a puppy...
‘This feels pretty good...’
The lingering tension faded, and my expression gradually relaxed.
That was when it happened.
“Commander, the Solaus Church has arrived.”
Simon spoke from outside the door.
Secretary Karen and I turned toward the entrance. Lucia stopped stroking my hair.
Three members of the Solaus Church stood outside.
One was Esili, a devotee close to the Saintess, and the other two were Holy Knights.
‘The Church?’
Esili politely lowered her head.
“It has been a long time, Commander of the White Wing Knight Order.”
Only then did Lucia turn her head toward the members of the Solaus Church.
“Yes. It has been a long time, Esili. It is very nice to see you.”
“It seems both of you are here.”
Both of us?
“I have something to say to Cadet Ron Hazely. I have formally requested a meeting with the knight academy. Therefore, I would also like to request permission from his Master, the commander of the White Wing Knight Order.”
Wait.
These people came to see me...?
‘Why...?’
I hadn’t gotten involved with the Church yet, had I?
Tension surged through me. Where had things gone wrong?
“May I join the meeting as well?”
“Yes, Commander of the White Wing Knight Order. We would prefer that.”
“Then I have no objection, as long as my Squire does not mind.”
For now... I would have to hear them out to understand what was going on.
I was extremely uneasy, but I would reserve judgment for the moment.
“I don’t mind either.”
“Thank you, both of you. Then I will see you later.”
......
Time passed, and the day’s Sparring Test came to an end.
Knight academy administration building, reception room.
I sat beside Lucia, the commander of the White Wing Knight Order, on one side of a sofa. White Wing knights stood behind us.
Across from us, Esili of the Solaus Church sat on a sofa. Two Holy Knights stood behind her.
At the seat of honor sat Principal Olivia, one of the knight academy’s authorities. Secretary Reynald stood behind the principal.
‘Even the principal came?’
When an outsider requested an official meeting with a knight academy cadet, a academy official had to be present.
Still, I had not expected the principal to personally take on that role.
‘It makes sense. The principal must know that the Saintess came here.’
Since the Saintess had been hiding her identity, she had probably asked Principal Olivia for cooperation.
Otherwise, there would be a risk of her identity being exposed in the event of an emergency.
Since even the Saintess had come here in secret, the principal seemed to be taking the Solaus Church’s intentions seriously.
‘I’m scared shitless...’
Sitting alone among these influential figures and their factions made me feel incredibly small.
Even worse, the fact that they had gathered here because of me felt deeply burdensome.
“Then, Solaus Church. Would you tell us what business you have with ‘my’ Squire?”
For some reason, Lucia put emphasis on the possessive word “my.”
‘Damn, that feels great.’
Yeah, I belonged to a fox beastwoman big sis who stood at the pinnacle of the Imperial Five Wings and was a member of the Round Table Council.
So even the Church should watch what it said. And don’t think about using power to crush me, whatever your purpose may be.
‘...Not that this is something I should take so lightly.’
Still, having such reliable backing beside me meant I would be fine for now.
No matter what they said, I would not panic and would respond calmly.
“I will be direct.”
Esili looked at me and spoke politely.
“Ron Hazely, Squire to the commander of the White Wing Knight Order. We would like to offer you the position of Holy Knight in the Solaus Church.”
“...?”
Excuse me...?
* * *
As soon as the Sparring Test ended, Damian Dunbringer went to find the members of the Solaus Church.
Only a few Church members had attended as observers. Among them, a devotee wearing a hood that concealed their face and two Holy Knights welcomed Damian.
After moving to a private room prepared by the principal, they cast soundproofing magic.
One Holy Knight stood guard outside the door, while the other remained in the room with the face-covered follower.
‘Are they planning to discuss something secret?’
Damian thought as he sat down.
Soon, the hooded woman sat across from Damian and removed her hood.
Her magical disguise faded, changing her navy-blue hair into the same pale gold as Damian’s. Her voice must have returned to its original one as well.
“!”
Damian’s eyes widened.
An extraordinarily beautiful woman came into view.
The cross-shaped light in her eyes was a trait that appeared in those who had awakened divine power.
“Hello, Brother!”
The Saintess greeted him cheerfully.
Scrape.
Damian immediately rose from his seat, knelt on one knee before the Saintess, and lowered his head.
“I greet the Saintess.”
“Come on, Brother! You saw that I was using magical disguise. My visit here today is a secret from the outside world, so you don’t have to be formal!”
The Saintess waved both hands from side to side and smiled brightly.
“...I see.”
Damian stood, offered a gentle smile, and returned to his seat.
“It has been a long time, Gretchen. I didn’t know you were here.”
“Yep, and I watched you get completely crushed too!”
“Ha... ha...”
To think the first thing he showed his younger sister who had come all the way to the knight academy was his defeat.
Damian smiled helplessly.
“That person who fought you was really fun, Brother!”
“Um... Can we talk about the spar later?”
“Okay! I’ll hold back for my brother’s mental health!”
“Ha ha... Good girl, my little sister.”
Damian laughed awkwardly.
Before being the Saintess, the highest authority of the Holy Nation, the woman before him was Gretchen, Damian’s younger sister.
She was also his biological younger sister, whom he had cherished and carried on his back while raising her, and whom he had treasured above his own life even before she became the Saintess.
Gretchen was Damian’s only remaining family, a treasure he would not trade for anything in this world.
“More importantly, Brother. There’s something I want to ask you!”
“If it concerns the knight academy, I’ll answer anything as long as it does not violate security.”
Damian placed his interlaced hands on the table and spoke calmly.
He decided not to ask about the Saintess’s reason for coming to the knight academy.
Since the Church had gone so far as to arrange this meeting, he expected he would naturally learn through their conversation.
The Saintess leaned toward Damian, her eyes sparkling as she asked,
“Tell me about Ron Hazely. I want to know about him!”
Damian’s body froze like stone.
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